Cop killed, 4 injured in encounter, militants flee

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 12: A police man was killed and four security personnel were injured in an encounter in Batamaloo area of Srinagar while a man was killed and three others injured in Central Kashmir district of Budgam today.Click here to watch video
The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a cordon at Deyarwani area of Batmaloo in the wee hours today following inputs about the presence of the militants in the area.
As the security forces laid cordon around the house where the militants were present, they hurled a grenade and opened fire on the security personnel triggering a brief encounter in which five jawans including four CRPF men were injured. The owner of the house Neyaz Ahmad Bhat also received injuries during the exchange of gunfight.
All the injured security personnel were shifted to military hospital where constable Parvez Ahmad succumbed to injuries. The injured civilian was shifted to SMHS hospital here where his condition is said to be stable.
Source said that security forces had information about presence of three militants in the house who managed to escape during the encounter.
Additional reinforcements were rushed to the area and a massive hunt was launched in the entire area to trace out the militants.
Two persons were arrested by police during the searches and a hideout was also busted in the area. Police believed one militant was injured in the encounter.
Internet services were snapped in Srinagar as a precautionary measure in the morning but were restored in the afternoon.
A police spokesman said that security forces in Batamaloo area in district Srinagar jointly launched searches in the pre dawn hours today , based on credible leads about presence of militants in the area.
“While the searches in the area were going on, terrorist hiding in a house which had a proper hideout for them fired indiscriminately on the security forces .In the initial burst of fire, three jawans sustained injuries and were evacuated to the hospital for medical attention. However, one of them identified as SgCt Parvaiz succumbed to his injuries”, the spokesman said.
“Security forces exercised maximum restraint in retaliation considering the residential population and other civil establishments around the area. A massive search operation is underway in the area as it is understood that in the exchange of fire, terrorists were also injured. However, incriminating material was recovered from the site of encounter. Besides two accomplices of the terrorists have been detained. Police has registered a case and investigation initiated in the instant matter”, the spokesman added.
A wreath laying ceremony for Parvaiz Ahmad son of Mohammad Abbas, resident of village Dandote, tehsil Budhal, district Rajouri was held at DPL Srinagar.
One person was killed and two others injured at Tosamaidan in Khag area of Central Kashmir district of Budgam today in a blast.
The deceased has been identified as Wajid Bashir Ahanger of Zago Khareen, Beerwah.
Three persons including Wajid was injured after a shell exploded in Tosamaidan which had served as firing range of the Army and was cleared of the litter explosive before it was handed over to the civil administration.
Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Sehrish Asgar issued a fresh advisory and people have been asked not to fiddle with any shell or other suspected object if they find the same. “We made announcements in local Masjids and other places adjoining Tosamaidan and have urged people not to touch or fiddle with any suspected object in the area,” DC said.
The Deputy Commissioner said that a fresh clean-up drive will be taken up for any explosive devices in the area.